Multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an improved multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume, which includes a shaft with a crown secured to its upper end, a slider slidably provided on the shaft, and rib sections pivoted to the crown and the slider consisting of struts, tensions ribs, and spokes. The rib sections of the frame are positioned in side-by-side relationship, either clockwise or anti-clockwise, when the umbrella is closed, wherein the umbrella can be two-folded, three-folded, four folded, five-folded, or more, and between the rib sections, various connecting assemblies are provided. Hence, the present umbrella can be used more conveniently and effectively.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional patent application of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/523,527, filed on 20 Sep. 2006. The entire disclosure of the prior application Ser. No. 11/523,527, from which an oath or declaration is supplied, is considered a part of the disclosure of the accompanying Divisional application and is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional folded umbrella includes at least two rib sections being pivoted in general linear alignment. When the umbrella is closed, the rib section will contact each other at the pivot joining them, such as shown in FIG. 1. Hence, the umbrella remains slightly extended in the closed state, thereby having a large volume. Though the umbrella can be forced into a compact closed state, it will elastically expand to the structure as it is released. Because of the collision between the rib sections, when being folded, the closed umbrella cannot be effectively reduced in volume, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,902,514, 6,244,284, 5,435,331, 5,553,634, 6,257,257, 1,486,772, 4,007,752, 6,170,498, and 5,337,770.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rib structure to overcome the drawback of prior art, which includes several kinds of pivoted structure to connect the rib sections in side-by-side relationship, as shown in FIG. 2, or anti-clockwise relationship in FIG. 2-1. By this arrangement, the closed volume of the folded umbrella will be effectively reduced. Now, accompanying the following drawings, the character of the present invention will be described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a traditional folded umbrella and its rib sections in closed state.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing a folded umbrella and its rib sections in closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a two-folded umbrella in opened state with encircled portions A and B according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a three-folded umbrella in opened state with encircled portions B, C, and D.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a four-folded umbrella in opened state with encircled portions A, B, D, and E.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a five-folded umbrella in opened state with encircled portions B, C, D, and E.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the encircled portion A with its exploded view.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the encircled portion B with its exploded view.

FIG. 9 is a modified embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the encircled portion C with its exploded view.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the encircled portion D with its exploded view.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the encircled portion E with its exploded view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the umbrella according to the present invention includes in the known way a shaft with a crown secured to its upper end and a slider slidably provided on the shaft, wherein FIG. 3 shows a two-folded umbrella, FIG. 4 shows a three-folded umbrella, FIG. 5 shows a four-folded umbrella, and FIG. 6 shows a five-folded umbrella. The character of the present invention relates to connecting structures between the rib sections for reducing the closed volume of the umbrella. In these figures, there are five connecting assemblies shown in the encircled portions A, B, C, D, and E, some sets of which are respectively used in a related folded umbrella. For example, the two-folded umbrella in FIG. 3 includes the encircled portions A and B, which explain connecting structure of the rib sections therebetween.

As seen in FIG. 7, the encircled portion A shows a first connecting assembly as in FIGS. 3 and 5, which includes a strut rib (a1), a branch rib (a11), and a tension rib (a12). The tension rib (a12) has its inner end linked to the branch rib (a11) at point P1. The branch rib (a11) has its outer end pivoted to the strut rib (a1) and a U-shaped holder (a13) at point P2.

As seen in FIG. 8, the encircled portion B shows a second connecting assembly as in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6. As an example, FIG. 3 includes the strut rib (b1), a spoke (b2), and the tension rib (b12). The tension rib (b12) has its outer end linked to the inner end of the spoke (b2) while the strut rib (b1) has its outer end linked to the spoke (b2) at point P3, both of which are pivoted to a U-shaped cover (b14) having an opening (b141) above point P3. A modification can be made related to FIG. 8. Such as in FIG. 9, the strut rib (b1) is pivoted directly to the U-shaped cover (b14) and the spoke (b2) has an inner curved portion (b21) being placed above the strut (b1) and extended outward the opening (b141).

Referring to FIG. 10, a third connecting assembly shown in the encircled portion C as in FIGS. 4 and 6, which includes a strut (c1), a branch (c11), and a tension rib (c12). The tension rib (c12) has its inner linked to the branch rib (c11) at point P4. The branch rib (c11) has its outer end pivoted to the strut (c1) and a cover (c13) at point P5.

Referring to FIG. 11, a fourth connecting assembly shown in the encircled portion D as in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, which includes a first strut (d1), a second strut (d2), a first tension rib (d11) and a second tension rib (d21). The first tension rib (d11) has its outer linked to the inner ends of the second strut rib (d2) and a holder (d15). The second tension rib (d21) has its inner end linked to the first strut rib (d1) at point P6. The first strut rib (d1) has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib (d2) and the holder (d15) at point P7.

Referring to FIG. 12, a fifth connecting assembly shown in the encircled portion E as in FIGS. 5, and 6, which includes a first strut (e1), a second strut (e2), a first tension rib (e11) and a second tension rib (e21). The first tension rib (e11) has its outer linked to the outer ends of the second strut rib (e2) and a cover (e16). The second tension rib (e21) has its inner end linked to the first strut rib (e1) at point P8. The first strut rib (d1) has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib (e2) and the cover (e16) at point P9.

Under these arrangements, when the folded umbrella is closed, every rib section can be effectively closed to the shaft of the umbrella. Hence, the umbrella of the present invention can reduce the closed volume of the umbrella whatever the umbrella is two-folded or more. Hence, the present invention obtains improved utilization and should be allowed for a patent. 

1. A multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume including a shaft with a crown secured to its upper end, a slider slidably provided on the shaft, and rib sections pivoted to the crown and the slider consisting of struts, tensions ribs, and spokes; the characteristic is the rib sections being positioned in side-by-side relationship when the umbrella is closed, wherein the umbrella can be two-folded, three-folded, four folded, five-folded, or more, and between the rib sections, various connecting assemblies are provided.
 2. A multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume as claimed in claim 1, when the umbrella is a four-folded umbrella, which includes a first connecting assembly, a fifth connecting assembly, a fourth connecting assembly, and a second connecting assembly counted from the shaft, wherein the first connecting assembly includes a strut rib, a branch rib, and a tension rib, in which the tension rib has its inner end linked to the branch rib, and the branch rib has its outer end pivoted to the strut rib and a U-shaped holder; the fifth connecting assembly includes a first strut, a second strut, a first tension rib and a second tension rib, in which the first tension rib has its outer end linked to the outer ends of the second strut rib and a cover, the second tension rib has its inner end linked to the first strut rib, and the first strut rib has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib and the cover; the fourth connecting assembly includes a first strut, a second strut, a first tension rib and a second tension rib, in which the first tension rib has its outer end linked to the inner ends of the second strut rib and a holder, the second tension rib has its inner end linked to the first strut rib, and the first strut rib has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib and the holder; the second connecting assembly includes the strut rib, a spoke, and the tension rib, in which the tension rib has its outer end linked to the inner end of the spoke while the strut rib has its outer end linked to the spoke, and both of which are pivoted to a U-shaped cover having an opening above. 